tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313Tue, 06 Mar 2018 17:58:55 +0000Thoughts and Actionshttp://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (james gooch)Blogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-6890892210201374743Mon, 29 Jul 2013 05:14:00 +00002013-07-28T22:14:26.920-07:00Productivity Planner fdfdsafdsfsdfdsfdsf<br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-FDloT6gWaqZTAxZDZmNDYtNjc1MC00YTg4LTg4N2YtMDMzZDgzZTEyNjA4/edit?usp=sharing">https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B-FDloT6gWaqZTAxZDZmNDYtNjc1MC00YTg4LTg4N2YtMDMzZDgzZTEyNjA4/edit?usp=sharing</a>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/productivity-planner.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-2584128024914496757Thu, 25 Jul 2013 19:19:00 +00002013-07-26T17:06:25.519-07:00How to Learn More in Less Time<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d3ciNrquLr8/UfF5WkStVTI/AAAAAAAACCY/y4IdJdz957Y/s1600/stresslap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d3ciNrquLr8/UfF5WkStVTI/AAAAAAAACCY/y4IdJdz957Y/s1600/stresslap.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div align="center">﻿</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>One of the main obstacles I have found in my life and others, is time. The other is not having the knowledge or the know how to do something. When those two things comprise against the solution to your problem, the odds go against you quickly. I have heard many say, "I just don't have time to learn _______________"(Fill in the blank).These 2 reasons, alongside money, are probably in the top 3 for what makes someone achieve or not. So if you could learn how to beat the learning curve and the time it took to get you there, wouldn't it make sense to do so? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Below are some ideas and free resources that could help you along your quest for knowledge. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I have personally implemented these ideas into my own life and noticed that it made significant changes to overcome the issues listed above. </span></div><br /><h2 align="center"><span style="font-size: x-large;">&nbsp;Ask</span></h2><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 45pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Find individuals that can help you attain knowledge. Have at least one question they can answer to help you move forward. If you picked one person a day, at the end of the year you would know 365 bits of information. If you are asking the question, you should probably at least get one tidbit of information beneficial to you. We live in a society that encourages us to act as if we already know, regardless, if we really know or not. That does not make for a stable environment to ask questions, but go against the status quo and do it anyway. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 45pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Being humble and honest with individuals and groups when it comes to your lack of knowledge pays off. It is human nature for the other person to instantly start trying to show you how much they know, so they start telling you, when you make it clear that you lack the knowledge. It is not so much that the other person is willing to help, versus the fact that they want to show you how much they know. Funny how that works...isn't it? Hehe. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 45pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Find groups of people in a quest for the same knowledge as you. Make up points of connections, and exchange ideas. Teamwork pays off.</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><h2 style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;<span style="font-size: x-large;">Speed read</span></h2><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>This is a super power that Warren Buffet and Bill Gates both specifically said they would love to have. You can check the video out <a href="http://kwiklearning.com/general/if-you-could-have-one-superpower-bill-gates-warren-buffett/" target="_blank">here</a>&nbsp;.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Take a test right here that will show you your speed reading skills currently. In addition, I have added some resources to further supplement the ability to speed read. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.readingsoft.com/" target="_blank">Free Speed Reading Test</a></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://www.readspeeder.com/" target="_blank">Free Speed Reading Course</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="http://spreeder.com/" target="_blank">Free Online Speed Reading Software</a></span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/07/30/speed-reading-and-accelerated-learning/" target="_blank">Tim Ferris Speed Reading Tutorial</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.gamesforthebrain.com/game/speedread/" target="_blank">Speed Reading Comprehension Practice&nbsp;</a></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://speed-reading-software-review.toptenreviews.com/" target="_blank">Top 10 For Speed Reading Software 2013</a></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Audio books</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you don't like to read, use audio books. They are more common now than ever. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 45pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is a list of the top audio book websites as of July 2013. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://audiobook-websites.no1reviews.com/" target="_blank">http://audiobook-websites.no1reviews.com/</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Find a mentor</span></h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It makes sense to find others that already know&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;t</span>he answers to your questions. Who better to help you than someone that is an expert already. Even as little as 10 minutes in their presence, could take months, if not years, off of your learning curve. They stand out in their field. If you cannot get them one on one, hunt down their websites and products.</span></div><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Take time to learn how you learn</span> </h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;To learn faster, having a plan on how to learn is a great start. Many of us were taught to learn by repetition but after reading this free&nbsp;<a href="http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/Programs/HolisticLearningEBook.pdf" target="_blank">E-book</a>&nbsp;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>by Scott H. Young, you might just think that there are more effective ways to learn . Reading this really provoked my thought when it came to how I was learning. &nbsp; </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;You can watch Scott&nbsp;talking about the MIT challenge by clicking down below:</span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp; <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=piSLobJfZ3c" target="_blank">Scott H Young MIT Challenge</a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0984191402/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0984191402&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=httpjaythough-20" target="_blank">Mind Maps</a>&nbsp;are another great way to change up your learning skills. The concept is taking things and grouping them so they will make sense later. It is believed that our brains don't have a problem storing the information, it is having an organized process for retrieval, that is the main problem.</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;What would be 2 key things you would try to learn, providing that you had the resources <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>to do so? </span><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Provide Your Feedback below</span></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/how-to-learn-more-in-less-time.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-1151713586433113969Mon, 22 Jul 2013 19:56:00 +00002013-07-23T14:33:17.921-07:0016 Proven Methods to Develop Your Niche<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDIOtT1OI8I/Ue3gzKW_8tI/AAAAAAAAB8A/r2ErWqEQ1bQ/s1600/searching.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QDIOtT1OI8I/Ue3gzKW_8tI/AAAAAAAAB8A/r2ErWqEQ1bQ/s1600/searching.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We all want a niche. We want something that people can associate us with when our name is mentioned in a conversation. A niche is a situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, talents, or nature. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A niche, simplified, is the unanswered questions between you and your overall purpose. The definition alone can present many questions to help us find our niche. There is some form of niche for everything we think of. So why can't everyone find their niche? Let's find out. Let's take the three characteristics of the definition and break them into action steps.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h1 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Interests<o:p></o:p></h1><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Fill in the Blank: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sometimes the answer could already be there. Is there anything that you are interested in? Is there anything you would be interested in learning to do? Is there anything that you are interested enough in to do for free? If a future career is your goal, you will be doing it for free for a little while.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Carry a notepad:&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Always have something to take notes with at all times. Maybe something will grab your interest or you have questions about it. About once every few days, maybe sit down and review the notes. If you have a mobile device, you can download great apps for note taking that have voice recognition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>You can usually send these notes directly to your email as well. This can be to your advantage if you are on the go. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Do your research: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Try to find people in your area that already pursue some of your potential interests. Take them out to lunch. Let them know ahead of time that your intent is to ask them some questions, so they will be ready for it. If they don't have time for lunch, ask them if you can shoot them an email. This <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>email should be no more than 3 short questions about what they do, what it took to get there, and the pros and cons of it. Sometimes if you see a lot of cons in something, that will eliminate the interest immediately, making the overall decision much easier. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h1 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Talents<o:p></o:p></h1><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Write a resume to yourself: </h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When you look for a job, you would do this. So why not when you are trying to assess what to do with your life. At this current point and time, what would you hire you to do? What are your past jobs? What were the skills you acquired in order to do those jobs? Cross reference the skills and see if any complement the other. Pair your skills into groups. Sometimes groups versus a long list of unrelated words can help speed up the decision process. Break those groups into sub-groups notating what you are currently good at, and what you need to work on, and what you hope to become good at. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Quit trying to be yourself: </h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Don't just be yourself. Aim to find things that add extensions to yourself. It is possible to be who you are, while adding some skills along the way. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Be open minded: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sometimes we find one thing we are good at, and then we do that one thing because it is comfortable, giving no regard to the fact that we probably have much more to offer. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes new talents are developed by being pushed into unknown territory. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">Don't let opportunity get blinded by current desires. There will be things you need to do, and particularly don't want to, in order to progress. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When this happens, take advantage and try to learn from it. It is possible you may learn a new talent, or how your existing talent can be applicable to areas you never imagined. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">What challenges you? </h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sit back and think what challenges you have faced, and how you have overcame them. Odds are others have had these same challenges, and they are waiting for an answer. It is easy to view developing talents for the taking, but develop them for giving as well. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Are you dangerous? </h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Do you have enough knowledge at something to be considered dangerous. If so, maybe you should expand on the knowledge to further complement what you want to achieve. </span></span><br /><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;Ask others: </h2><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Having a talent that you want recognized by others, requires them to recognize it. If you really want to know what others see in you, ASK. This can be scary, but quite informative. Don't be afraid. It will surprise you what others see as your talents. It might even make you consider working harder towards something they viewed, that you had never seen. If the answers don't align with how you think you should be viewed, ask them why they don't see in you what you figured they would.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Verdana&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;">Robert Michael Fried, best-selling author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006CXFEQ4/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B006CXFEQ4&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=httpjaythough-20" target="_blank">Igniting Your True Purpose and Passion</a>, said “the risk is right when it will help you close the disparity or gap between who you are and where you want to go. When your outside view of the world reflects your inner voice, you are well on your way to taking the right risk.”</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes we miss those qualities we need to master that will have us perceived as we desire.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h1 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Nature<o:p></o:p></h1><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Ask yourself: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is easy to get derailed by other's opinion. The amazing thing is that the most important opinion of all rarely affects us: It is our own opinion. How do you feel about yourself? What do you feel like you are good at? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>What is the reason you could see yourself going for the ideas you have had for so long? These are creating vision and confidence , because when you try something new, you will need both. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">In case you missed my post,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the Prime Objective<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">,&nbsp;<a href="http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-prime-objective-ordered-steps-to.html" target="_blank">here</a></span> is a link to it that furthers dwells into the key motivators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Know Yourself: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If someone is asked what 3 things they like best about their role model, they can tell you instantly. Are you able to answer that question as quickly about yourself ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The role model<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>knows how to describe themselves. They had to figure it out in order to get where they are today. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Love it when people call you Names: </h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As bad as we hate to admit it, when someone calls us a name or describes us, it is usually current with our persona at the given time. This does not have to only be in negative situations, but positive ones as well. Take heed when someone calls you names, it just might help you answer some questions.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h1 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>Here are some things you can implement while on your journey:<o:p></o:p></h1><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Get serious: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Have an ideal time frame in mind for when you want<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>to make that big decision. The sooner you figure it out, the sooner you are on your way. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Defy All Logic: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you have figured out what you want to do, you have done enough thinking already. Many times in life we don't jump on those golden opportunities because we give logic time to kick in. Despite what we desire to achieve, logic starts telling us all the reasons why we shouldn't. Sometimes if we just got started, despite the logic, the decision would already have been made. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Be the same, but be different: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In anything, there will be competition. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don't get hung up in the fact that someone else has already thought of your idea. </span><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">To become a frontrunner, it takes a unique combination of talents to make a person stand out in their niche.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Being the best at something that already exists, is a way to add to your niche.<span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Look towards the future: <o:p></o:p></h2><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What about now? Concentrate on the now with your actions, but make sure these current actions will be beneficial to your future. In the future, will it be discovered that your skill set is needed? Is it needed now, and will it stand the test of time? <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-size: large;"><em>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sir Ken Robinson,</em> author of<em> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFPVOTG/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B00AFPVOTG&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=httpjaythough-20" target="_blank">Finding Your Element: How To Discover Your Talents and Passions and Transform Your Life </a></em></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">had some interesting insights into what it takes to develop talents. He thinks a lot of it is about opportunity. He says<em>, "</em></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Human resources are like the earth’s natural resources: they’re often buried beneath the surface and you have to make an effort to discover them."<span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of his latest TED talks:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_how_to_escape_education_s_death_valley.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">How To Escape Education</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/sir_ken_robinson_bring_on_the_revolution.html" target="_blank">The Learning Revolution</a></span></div></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/3-key-components-of-developing-your.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-1444986479410728253Wed, 17 Jul 2013 20:51:00 +00002013-07-25T19:44:58.069-07:00The Prime Objective: The Ordered Steps to Success? or Not?<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJP7liXsgnQ/UecBsBoqyiI/AAAAAAAAB1U/GajrfY6KUwo/s1600/confused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wJP7liXsgnQ/UecBsBoqyiI/AAAAAAAAB1U/GajrfY6KUwo/s1600/confused.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"> In 2005, when Bill Gates and Warren Buffet were asked what superpower they wished they had, can you guess what they said? They jokingly said extended lifetime, and they agreed that eliminating the competition would not be too interesting. They finally agreed that they wished they had the ability to speed read. If they were asked this same question today, would their answer be the same? So why would they, with all of this money, still have to read constantly? To Learn. When making money,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>it is still important to continuously improve the skills necessary to stay competitive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>So wouldn't it be a good idea to stop and ask ourselves our prime objective for pursuing the goals in our lives? Is it money? Is it learning? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Focusing on learning gives you a greater potential for success. Success has the potential to bring you money. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shifting your focus initially to the learning side has many benefits long term:</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Learning can help you avoid mistakes later on. If you cannot avoid the mistakes, you might have a better sense of how to handle them with certain skill sets. This could make a difference in the amount of money you earn or lose. This could be the difference between quitting and moving forward. There is nothing more frustrating than being stuck in one place, with no idea how to proceed. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Realize the importance of the basics: Getting expert knowledge, without understanding the basics, usually hampers your ability to instantly apply the information. Without understanding the basics, it can be more likely to discount expert information. It serves great to have an understanding of why courses of actions are being taken. Not knowing the basics can be a stumbling block in anything pursued, and can be quite time consuming and frustrating. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have already learned the basics of something, it cuts your learning curve: You have already put yourself ahead of the game by learning the basics. Imagine trying to walk into a software development firm, write some software, and had seldom practiced beforehand. Imagine yourself as the CEO of a company with no prior business knowledge. People already know there would not be much sense in attempting <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>these given scenarios. It is a no brainer that the more someone knows in advance, the more likely their chance of success when the test comes.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If your learning curve has been drastically cut already, you have a much better chance of being a frontrunner in delivering this new found information to others: Today we have so many diverse terminologies and acronyms out there, learning these things alone can be a series of long, daunting study sessions. If you can be that person to cut the learning curve with a quickness, great for you and great for them.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once you have the basics, things get more difficult: Usually after the initial knowledge, learning the advanced information tends to be a slower process. There is more thought and decision involved in conjunction with learning. This can take enormous amounts of time, making it all the more important to have the basics mastered before others. That being said, once you are over the hump and have become savvy with your new found knowledge, certain things that required thought and decisions become seamless, almost like a natural reflex. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Now The Money Part: </span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Information is king these days. Information travels fast. Being a frontrunner of new information presents the ability to make more money, if you can deliver the information to others first. Imagine trying to charge hundreds of dollars on teaching web design. People would not be flocking to your seminar. Odds are they already know someone with enough of the abilities to get them started. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last but not least, in the beginning and all the way to the end, have fun with it. If things don't go great in the first attempt, tackle it again. Most people have difficulty having fun trying to learn something that can make them money. They might attempt to learn, but if they despise it, it is questionable if they will carry on through. As human nature dictates, we want it and want it now. Once that feeling comes in, stress and pressure tend to follow. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>So have you decided what your prime objective is? Is it learning? Is it Money?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>That is for you to decide. I think learning is a continuous and exciting journey. It would seem a bore to just be complacent with what we already know, and not desiring to learn more. Imagine how different the world would be if people carried this mentality. With or without the money, learning has never hurt anyone in the end. </span></span>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-prime-objective-ordered-steps-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-689961080591139196Tue, 16 Jul 2013 15:19:00 +00002013-07-17T10:50:35.916-07:00All Eyes, All Ears, But No Attention?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkHM3axuzM/UeVht8KWu8I/AAAAAAAABzw/ScUJEJKDb6E/s1600/Attention.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkHM3axuzM/UeVht8KWu8I/AAAAAAAABzw/ScUJEJKDb6E/s1600/Attention.png" /></a></span></div><div align="center">﻿</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">Last week I posted on something near and dear to all of our hearts, </span><a href="http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/building-your-audience.html"><span style="font-size: large;">Building Our Audience</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. Wanting to be noticed is part of our DNA. Your motivation could be financial. You just might want to make new friends. So what do you do when you feel like you have done everything humanly possible to get attention?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Are you questioning if you are invisible? Do you feel misunderstood? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>You have read, listened, and watched but you still just cannot get anyone to give you attention in return. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Here are some key things to consider:</span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most people do not find you or your products as awesome as you do. Hard to believe, isn't it?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone will NEVER see you or your product as important as you do. Unfortunately, sad but true. Everything is not for everybody. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why should they? You should never even walk into forming a relationship expecting an equal amount of passion from the other person initially.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do they trust you? Do they even like you? Pretty much sums it up.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is your level of momentum going in? In business or relationships it is much easier if someone has a positive pre-defined feeling beforehand. It is easier to get friends if people have already been told you are worthy. It is definitely much easier to gain in business with prior credibility.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you people won't buy into you, they won't buy from you. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I shouldn't have to sell, should I? In business or relationships, when trying to obtain attention, you are trying to present the validity of your request. That is selling. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Take the display down: Just showing your opportunity off is not enough. There has to be action. If you want to be someone's friend, would you just go stand beside them with a sign in your hand, without ever saying a word. With opportunities, your display will be overlooked if it has no description behind it. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Become an artist: Have you painted a good picture of the specifics of why you or the opportunity you present would benefit the person? What kind of qualities do you offer to make your opportunity or friendship worthwhile?</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you hitting them up for favors, before you offered one? Have you asked them if they needed anything? Going up and asking people for a favor out of the blue is ludicrous these days. People need incentives in business and friendships. What better way to get someone 's attention than to offer something first. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">What have you done for them lately? Do it first, no excuses. People love it when you do stuff for them. Will they appreciate it, probably not at first, but they will love it. This will erase the question before it becomes an issue. It is also good because if you done something for them, and they don't buy in, they don't feel like it was a total waste of their time. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Are you honestly putting it out there? Never put your opportunities out there without going in for the kill 100%. Not displaying the ability to ask wholeheartedly shows you are hesitant in your intent. Having a lack of intent when offering anything, will put the other person in question. It exudes confidence when you deliver with intensity. If you are not confident, do you really expect them to be when making their decision? Imagine walking up to someone, asking them to be your friend, and telling them that you think you might be worthy. Uhhh...crickets are chirping now I am sure. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you hear what they said? What you say is valuable. What they say can be double as valuable. Listen to what they have to say. Listen to how they reply when asked a question. Let them ask questions. You will be able to fill in the blanks if you listen. In friends and business, listening is essential. If you don't take an interest in others, they won't take too much interest in you. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did you do your homework? In person, or on social media, you should really take at least a few minutes to research your future prospect. If you want to be someone's friend, doesn't it make sense to find out what they enjoy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Doesn't it make sense to see if you share common interests? Find out what they like? It is easier to fill their need if you know the answer to this ahead of time. This applies to business as well.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you really did everything possible? Usually when we take a hard deep look, we have not totally exhausted our resources. We are just exhausted with the methods we are currently using. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you tried a different approach? It never hurts to try a new way of doing something. Trying it does not mean it has to become the new way. Maybe think out of the box.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Approach things the total opposite of how you have in the past. Modify some of your responses to things you usually expect the other person to ask.</span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sometimes it is the little things: Sometimes you will come to find out that some minor tweaking is all that is necessary. It only takes a little wrong to counteract the right. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Going for anything in life, is not just an action, but a state of mind. It is one of the grandest tests of mental endurance known today. Seek and you shall find what you are looking for. The next time you feel like you feel like you have done everything possible, step back and ask yourself these questions. If you know someone else with this problem, ask them these questions. It might be simple enough, and it is. Not taking simple steps can make life complicated. You are awesome, the world just does not know it yet. It is time to show off the superstar in you!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxkHM3axuzM/UeVht8KWu8I/AAAAAAAABzw/ScUJEJKDb6E/s1600/Attention.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>&nbsp;</span></div><br /></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/all-eyes-all-ears-but-no-attention.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-8222241253591920492Fri, 12 Jul 2013 18:43:00 +00002013-07-17T12:03:08.826-07:00Getting Real Part 5<span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PwsJCxjM87U/UdcI2nQRqbI/AAAAAAAABjc/ln7SigTHMVk/s1600/transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PwsJCxjM87U/UdcI2nQRqbI/AAAAAAAABjc/ln7SigTHMVk/s1600/transparent.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; About month number nine, I woke up one morning. I was reaching to get something and was astonished. My fingers raised. I had no previous signs of recovery. I did not know much about crying tears of joy until then. That was one of the moments in my life where I felt "thankful" in more than just saying it aloud. I had the scars for life but not the permanent disability that had been haunting me every day. And, to be quite honest, the scars did not end up being too bad. They say in life that you don't know what you got until it's gone. I think it is even more challenging to lose it, realize what you had, and fight with everything to get it back. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Despite my efforts to improve the situation, I still call this a miracle. I could have just accepted what the doctors told me, but I am glad I did not. Even though all of this time I had felt discouraged, I had realized that I believed in myself stronger than ever before. I felt this was a new beginning and could not wait to see what was next. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And, of course, you know I had to schedule an appointment to display the miracle. I somehow believe I was not the only one who gained hope that day. I think the doctors and therapists learned something as well. I would like to believe that at least one of those people walked away with a clear vision of what happens when someone refuses to give up. I know I had talked to many people along the way that were told they were disabled, but did more than fully physically capable people do. This is one reason I have a hard time swallowing the word "can't" from someone to this day. Life happens, and usually not at the most convenient times. It takes life happening, sometimes, to create positive changes. It creates those positives in the darkest of our days. The most important result is making it through to the other side.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sometimes when the authorities give you an opinion, you still have to&nbsp;take your ability and desire, and use those things to dictate the outcome. The doctors were supposed to be authorities in this matter. The authorities&nbsp;based their&nbsp;opinions only with usual outcomes and results. They wrote me off due to natural prediction.&nbsp;The authorities in this matter,&nbsp;never took into consideration,&nbsp;the type of person I was. An educated diagnosis is still an opinion. Educated&nbsp;diagnosis is taught to stay </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">within the realm of pure logic. It does not explore the realm of the impossible. Without those doctors, I would not have made the progress I made, and I can see based on their education why they would have predicted those results. However, I do think today that is why I refuse to let anyone (authority or not) predict my end result. Their opinions can continuously circle me, but not define me. They cannot dictate my direction or the impact I will try to make. Life is too short and if you believe you can do something, who has the right to make you believe otherwise? </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/getting-real-part-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-6027520533637902920Wed, 10 Jul 2013 16:12:00 +00002013-07-10T09:12:56.592-07:00Building Your Audience<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f817lyKUyxg/Ud2DsaUVfbI/AAAAAAAABpo/O6o-Hb-nsls/s1600/donkey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f817lyKUyxg/Ud2DsaUVfbI/AAAAAAAABpo/O6o-Hb-nsls/s320/donkey.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:262.5pt;height:214.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\James\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title="donkey"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We have all had that moment. The moment where we wish we were well known and did not feel like another face in the crowd. For some people it is a brief thought. For others, they spend their life yearning to fulfill this desire. We all desire to build an audience. Just that one chance to be on the main stage. Well, I have good news. Don't worry. One way or the other, we will all stand out at one time or another and build an audience with a quickness.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>But what do you do when you have a "moment"? That<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>awkward moment where you stand out in an undesirable way. The moment when you said or did something so out of character that later on you could not believe it was you that actually did it. Things like saying something hurtful without realizing the situation first, maybe messing up in a big business meeting, or dropping your food on the floor in front of everyone. Now how many of us have done that one? Worst of all, word spreads fast and then everyone knows. Almost everyone deals with these moments, actually we all do. The ones who won't admit it are...you guessed it...liars. I have been on both ends of this scenario, probably more times than I would like to admit. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You go home that night still full of embarrassment,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>wondering how you could have done that thing. You toss and turn in the bed wondering how everyone is going to react to you tomorrow. You might even have a nightmare about the experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You wake up the next morning dreading the day ahead. You go in the bathroom and look in the mirror in disgust. You still cannot believe what happened. You feel emotions such as embarrassment, guilt, and maybe even shame. You just want to crawl back in the bed. But wait a minute, don't do that. There is some good news for you.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I learned a few things that made those feelings go away before you have to sleep on it that night. So here goes:</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1.) Just deal with it: Get on the phone or the computer. Make sure you contact some of the people that saw or heard about the encounter, and just let them get it out of their system. Let them get a laugh, and be done. If it happened to make anyone mad, contact them and bring it up immediately. Let them yell at you and be done with it. It is going to happen sooner or later, so just deal with it. </span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2.) Make a big joke before they do: I am not the biggest fan of poking fun at myself, but for some it does wonders. I have seen some people repeatedly joke about one of those moments to the extent they break new ground with people they never knew before. It brings out the person's sense of humor so much that people just love being around their new found personality. I have seen people walk up to someone they did not know and ask, "Do you remember that time I (fill in the blank)? Now that is leveraging a bad situation. They took a situation that should have made them clam up, and used it as icebreakers to engage in conversations. They used their own misfortune to create commonality between other people.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3.) Know You are Not Alone: If you decided to make everyone that had one of those moments join your club, everyone would be a member. Everyone will have one of those moments eventually. Usually the ones making the jokes (or getting mad) have already had a moment like this. Realize that now they are just on the other end of the joke.</span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Despite the way it made you feel, no one could have done that moment as well as you did. It could not be rehearsed or duplicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Most importantly, don't sweat it. Don't go to bed at night with a feeling of regret. Confront it. If you are ever going to be successful at anything, you better learn this quality fast. Moments can stop you, especially when you make a bigger deal about it than anyone else. We all have those moments. The moments when we feel like everyone is staring at us after what we did. No one usually cares enough to make more than one comment about it anyways, so loosen up. Even though you are in the spotlight now, you will lurk back into the crowd before you know it. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You will probably have another moment later on with a brand new audience. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Don't let those moments make you freeze. Don't let those moments define your character. Strangely enough, if you face the music with this, it usually makes people inquisitive on why you handled it this way. It will intrigue them how you could have done such a thing, and still be exuding with confidence. Moments like these can be a real growing experience for us if we learn how to embrace the opportunity. Like it or not, life is going to deal us these moments. We can take them a lot easier than leaving them.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f817lyKUyxg/Ud2DsaUVfbI/AAAAAAAABpo/O6o-Hb-nsls/s1600/donkey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>&nbsp;</span></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" style='width:262.5pt;height:214.5pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\James\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" o:title="donkey"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br /><a href="//pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest" data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-config="above"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B007SZ9GB4&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1592404677&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0061379409&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0966398130&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/building-your-audience.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-2404441254552439824Tue, 09 Jul 2013 11:13:00 +00002013-07-09T04:13:56.123-07:00Bringing Out the Best<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-2iKsgBe7k/UdvuzoV-D3I/AAAAAAAABn8/pH815RHiE90/s1600/best.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e-2iKsgBe7k/UdvuzoV-D3I/AAAAAAAABn8/pH815RHiE90/s1600/best.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Some of the things that have made me feel the worst, have been things that ended up bringing out the best in me. The things I did not want to do,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>but did anyways, enabled me to do the things I always wanted to do. I know personally that I am thankful for the leadership in my life that made an effort to call me out when I was heading in the wrong direction. Some of the people that have made me the most angry, were the people I am most thankful for today. I had the worst within me, but when coming to the external, it displayed my best. Life is funny like that. I could go on and on about the irony in this, but I think the picture has been clearly portrayed at this point. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Treat a man as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat a man as he could be, and he will become what he should be.” It is a good thing other leaders along my way realized this. The uncomfortable things I did not want to do, did not align with my current self. They were not things I would naturally do. They were not things I could just wing, or were naturally good at. At the time, I did not realize I was preparing my future self for the things I would do for the rest of my life. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Once I did those things, and got better, it become less uncomfortable. Eventually, all of the feelings of doubt and dread I had before had seemed to turn to confidence. I knew I could because I had become those things, and they had become a part of me. It became almost like a reflex. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I remember a time when someone could make a negative comment about me or what I was doing, and it would bother me all day long. I would get angry. There would be someone trying to guide me down the right path, telling me, just to forget about it. Easier said than done in my opinion. I struggled with that for a while. It seemed much easier at the time to just get offended. It was not easier, it was just my natural reflex. After learning to let go a few times, it was like chains were broken from me. I did not feel imprisoned by those feelings of anger I felt before. One of the most awesome feelings I have ever&nbsp;felt in my life. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I remember the first time I was going to speak in front of a crowd. I wanted to do it for years, but now that the time had come, I was scared to death. I wanted to run and hide. It was crazy to me how I could have desired to do something for so long, and those feelings turn to fear when it became reality. Despite my fear, I was urged to follow through, and it was the best advice I ever took. I was even horrible that night, but inside I felt like I accomplished one of the most important goals of my life: I conquered fear. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>No matter what point we are at in our lives, we all experience fear. We all have points of discomfort where we don't want to change, or don't want to do something. You conquer these emotions not by refusing to feel them, but by changing your natural reaction to them. Remember, emotions are natural parts of who we are. It is up to us to choose our natural reactions to the emotions we feel. </span></div><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&amp;description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1607741474&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=160994562X&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0307888908&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0984292608&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/bringing-out-best.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-6477630854770223066Mon, 08 Jul 2013 18:57:00 +00002013-07-08T11:57:02.528-07:00Maintaining Equilibrium:Overcoming a Life In Disarray<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u6D4G7ZQu1o/UdfbpkQFslI/AAAAAAAABlU/PqtE4ddSUIo/s1600/Blurry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u6D4G7ZQu1o/UdfbpkQFslI/AAAAAAAABlU/PqtE4ddSUIo/s320/Blurry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As humans we search constantly for balance, or equilibrium. Equilibrium is best defined as "a state or feeling of mental balance; composure". We search but usually end up with disarray: "A state of disorganization or untidiness." Ever feel like you were meant for something more? Do&nbsp;you feel like a hamster on a wheel that goes as fast as it can, but still ends up in the same place at the end of the day? You know something needs to change but you just cannot put your finger on it. You feel like there are too many things going against you in order to make a change in another direction? You are overwhelmed by the circumstances going on in your life? Well guess what. You are probably part of a large percentage of people worldwide today, and probably more so in these times, then a few years ago. The world has drastically changed due to the economy, technology, world views, etc. Today many of us are getting a dose of reality that is overwhelming us in achieving our dreams. <br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Many people come up to me on a consistent basis and ask me, "How in the world do you get everything you get accomplished in the period of time given to you?" We are all given the same 24 hours every day. It was not rocket science to me. After observing their behaviors, I knew why they could not get as much done.&nbsp;They were awful when it came to realizing when to say when. They had no clue when they had shifted focus towards the task at hand. They were more concerned with producing continuous activity versus producing results. To go further, they did not have a clue when other individuals were hindering their progress by just simply talking to them. Most people&nbsp;who are great at things are focused on doing that one thing until completed,&nbsp;and they emphasize enormous focus on doing it well.&nbsp;You cannot be a free spirit if you have a mission to accomplish. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; S</span><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">tarting with what you are able to accomplish is the first step. Actions cannot&nbsp;be&nbsp;based on an "All or Nothing" mentality. If you get caught up in what you cannot do, it does not encourage you to do what you are already capable of. I have often heard it called "prosper where you are planted." Work on the things that will get you to point B, but realize you are still at point A at this time. It is easy to look too far past a task, even if it is important to your progress. If you cannot produce 10% of the results, why are you worrying about how to produce 100%? </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Never try with the intent that you can just change your whole world in the course of a few hours, and that you will wake up with massive results tomorrow. Some things can take weeks or years before results are reaped from the efforts made. Some things can just not be accomplished in one sitting. Always remember that setting smaller goals will move you faster to the overall goal waiting to be accomplished. When you do see results, no matter how insignificant, this can lead to you keeping your focus better. When you&nbsp;don't see results, this can be a breaking point for many people. They get so frustrated and overwhelmed they just quit altogether. Regardless of some opinions, to be successful at anything does&nbsp;require two variables: hard work and time. </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I&nbsp;think it is vitally important to focus on the present as well as the future. You should have a vision of the end, but don't let it blind you to the present moment. Every small choice you make now will dictate the end result. Just remember that if you are not arriving as fast as you would like, evaluate your present actions towards the future. This is what will keep you going when things get tough. There is nothing wrong with realizing you need a new game plan, erasing the board, and starting over again. Having the patience to go through this process can be the difference between winning and losing. </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; If you do not have a vision of what you need to do tomorrow it will be hard to reach the goal you set for months or years from now. This is where action comes in. Sometimes just putting that first foot forward when you dread a task is the most important step to getting it done effectively. It might show results tomorrow, it might not. Nonetheless, it is a step in the right direction. Direction is everything, even when we are not moving. It reminds me of the old story of Sodom and Gomorrah in the bible. Where they began to set their eyes is where they ended up. Their story did not end so fortunate, but the same point applies. Do yourself a favor starting RIGHT NOW!Find something you want, set your eyes toward it, and go for it!</span><br /><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&amp;description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B005FLOGMM&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0316346624&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0060731338&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B002HREKG4&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/maintaining-equilibriumovercoming-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-6503383976432708387Wed, 03 Jul 2013 15:12:00 +00002013-07-03T08:12:41.097-07:00Talk to Yourself...And Listen<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWjZXFOyBnY/UdOL0nFgG_I/AAAAAAAABeE/f1afUDZS3pE/s300/ears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KWjZXFOyBnY/UdOL0nFgG_I/AAAAAAAABeE/f1afUDZS3pE/s300/ears.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Some of the most informative conversations I have ever had were with myself. As crazy as this sounds, I talk to myself sometimes. I do this fairly regularly....almost daily. I don't take turns mimicking two different sides of a conversation. I usually don't even get in front of the mirror. What I mean by talking to myself is that I take time to listen to myself about my current thoughts and feelings. There are some things in life that can be put off, but feeling fulfilled and happy should not be those things. It is vital to evaluate how we feel currently, evaluating our current plan of action and direction as well. These things in the now can dictate the outcome of our lives in the future. We may know how we feel at the current moment, but do we really understand why and take the time to take it all in? Our lives get so crazy sometimes, that we forget about the way we feel. We try to forget sometimes because, at the current moment, that seems like the easiest solution. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It is easy to get spun up in a web of confusion. The world is moving rapidly, and is not offering any indication that it will slow down. That is where we have to learn how to slow down despite the things going on around us. We go day to day wishing something would change tomorrow, but that requires us paying attention to today first. We all have great intentions about where we want to go, but are our present actions aligning with the intentions? Does the way we view ourselves now align with the person we one day hope to become? Everyone has great intentions, but sometimes, they remain only intentions. There is usually a true lack of focus and planning on the steps necessary to make that intent a reality. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>One of my biggest fears in my younger <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>years, was the fear of waking up at an old age feeling empty inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I feared realizing that I had been going a hundred miles an hour in no particular direction, not accomplishing anything along the way. Good news is that I am not that old yet, and no longer fear this. I no longer fear this because I made a deal to talk to myself. I ask myself how I feel about the present, and my expectations of my future. If I physically or mentally don't feel on top of my game, I instantly evaluate why, and make an effort to change some things. This is one of the secrets to owning your life, and not letting your life own you. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>If I feel great, I take time to understand that too. I like taking the time to be present in my current state and know why I feel this way at this moment of happiness. I am focusing on me and the moment, and nothing else. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I get as detailed to the colors and the smells around me. I want to remember the things that made the moment so great. I will need this, because times are not always great. When things get bad, Its gives me something to revisit. It usually almost instantly changes two key things that dictate the outcome of anything: My attitude and perception on life.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Life can be great, if you really desire for it to be. When we have great moments, taking the time to really take them in can prove beneficial. When we have bad moments, we should take the time to revisit the great moments. This will usually calm us down and give us clarity in our thinking. We could sit there stewing in the bad moment, but the fact of the matter is, the bad moment happened regardless. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Reflecting on some earlier great moments could give us the edge to being in the presence of even greater moments later. Even on a bad day, if we have the road map pre-planned back to happiness, we will get back there a lot sooner. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Everyone deserves to bask in the presence of happiness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>When you fail to attempt to be happy, you rob yourself and the people that are in your presence on a daily basis. You owe it to yourself and them, to be the best you, that you can possibly be. </span></div><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=193594486X&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1451614217&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0399519904&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/07/talk-to-yourselfand-listen.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-4213379233487765729Fri, 28 Jun 2013 17:30:00 +00002013-06-30T20:37:38.973-07:00I Would Do Anything...But That<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cu2WaitPDmo/Uc3IMCP3AsI/AAAAAAAABYY/mV1AXOhUQso/s250/handshakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cu2WaitPDmo/Uc3IMCP3AsI/AAAAAAAABYY/mV1AXOhUQso/s250/handshakes.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>You have to set limitations and boundaries to what you are willing to do for your business. It is part of establishing yourself as a name and an entity. In the beginning, you might have done things you would never do today. It can be a progressive process but necessary. It will keep the smile on your face and help you move forward. If there is an established understanding early in the game about what you are and are not going to do, it will simplify things down the road. Customer and business relationships are still a relationship. In order for a relationship to flourish, both sides need to be satisfied for the most part. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>An issue I had a while back reminded me to write this. I used to run a pc repair business that offered for us to come to your home. When I arrived there, I smelled cigarette smoke, which I am highly allergic to now for some reason. I told the gentlemen that I could not fulfill his request at his home. His first response was, "Why?" I explained to him the situation. As far as doing the repair at the house, the answer was no with no compromise. I then told him this was beyond my control and surely out of his control. I waived the gentlemen the fee for coming to the house and gave him a 25% discount on the repair. Did I lose money? At the time, yes. In the end, no. The gentlemen was so pleased with my work that he became a regular customer. He would send referrals to me all the time and&nbsp;would go as far to let&nbsp;people know about the cigarettes. I never asked him to do that part by the way. Not only did he help my business grow but he was painting a picture of how I expected to do business. The ironic thing is that he was the originator of all of this. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>What started out as a trying situation ended up working out, despite my refusal to do the work at the house. The circumstance was beyond either person's control, and the answer had to be no in the given situation. I don't have many circumstances where I won't deliver, but this was one of them. Don't be afraid to speak up when you feel like things are not going your way. As long as it is not an unheard of request, your customers will respect it, even if they don't like it. If you cannot accommodate them, unless it is an unheard of reason, just make it right. If you have made the reason clear beforehand, stick to your guns. You will establishing a clear understanding and boundaries to your customers. </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Life is&nbsp;kind of the&nbsp;same way. We have to be familiar with what we are not willing to do in order to&nbsp;know how to get&nbsp;what we want. It keeps us honest and most important it helps us stay away from those types of things. A clear vision is not just knowing what you need to do, but knowing what you will not do under any circumstance, with no exceptions. Even though some will not like what you stand for, you will love yourself for it down the road. Plus those that did not like it, will probably at least learn to respect it. The difference in life is you cannot worry about accommodating everyone else's needs. Your belief system and standards have to be based on something other than what other people think is right for you, or what you should do for them. Respect is not earned by conforming to everyone else's opinions, it is earned by being true to yourself, and staying that way no matter what happens. If you are willing to lose a little at first to stay true, you will gain much in the end. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&amp;description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1477289321&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=159240846X&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0060731338&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/i-would-do-anythingbut-that.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-8161330558146280517Fri, 28 Jun 2013 02:59:00 +00002013-06-27T19:59:11.797-07:00Learn and Adapt, or Be Miserable? <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xudDIMa0jJc/Ucz62EiPbXI/AAAAAAAABWw/-8JKGH89VWs/s254/confusionstuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xudDIMa0jJc/Ucz62EiPbXI/AAAAAAAABWw/-8JKGH89VWs/s254/confusionstuff.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>&nbsp;</div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We all have a past. We all have a future. Most importantly, we all have a choice. A choice to learn and adapt, or to be miserable. We have a choice to have an opinion. Unfortunately, if we have opinions, without actions, opinions will be the only thing we are left with. We have a choice to embrace the world around us, learn new things, benefit ourselves, and benefit others. </span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Learning and adapting sometimes is not comfortable. Learning and adapting is what will separate the lifestyles that people live in the near immediate future. We are living in a paradigm shift right now. Competition has gotten more fierce and the chances of the underdog winning have become much greater. The only way to win is to choose to learn and adapt. If we don't choose to do that, we will be miserable. There is no opting out or running away. It is a decision that has to be made head on with the upmost determination. </span></div><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Life will be miserable for those of us who refuse to learn and adapt. Learning and adapting is not compromise. Misery is a compromise. Standing in disgust at the world around us does not do good for anyone. It inhibits progress on a personal and widespread level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Not liking the way things are is okay. Not doing anything about it, however, is not okay. Like it or not, the future is coming. It is not going to wait on any of us to catch up. We are going to have to grab a hold of the wave like never before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>We must learn to enjoy the ride along the way. We must learn to love those that are riding the wave with us <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>even if we choose to disagree on certain things. That is learning and adapting. That is what it takes to move things in different directions. </span><br /> <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Some think we are living in very different times. Some think we are living in uncertain and fearful times. Some think that we are living in exciting times. Some<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>think we are living in the end times. I like to think we are living in exciting times. I think some of the most exciting times in our life is what occurs after breaking through fear and uncertainty. To not get excited about life really does not prove to be profitable in my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>What does it matter what I think? Sadly, this is the question many of us have asked ourselves before. Your thoughts matter. My thoughts matter. Our actions matter. Thoughts can bring actions that can change the world. Everyone deserves success. Every one owes it to themselves to learn and adapt. There is not a person on this earth who deserves to be miserable. But the game has been laid out and choices have to be made. Only time will tell. It will be painfully obvious what choices the people around us make. </span></div><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1400069661&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0345500229&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0465090907&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/learn-and-adapt-or-be-miserable.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-2752011533243298042Thu, 27 Jun 2013 15:15:00 +00002013-06-27T08:15:10.883-07:008 Important Questions You Should Ask Yourself <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eX7jCy3y3k8/UcxOWly6s4I/AAAAAAAABWg/W-mtmyw4sjs/s1280/city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eX7jCy3y3k8/UcxOWly6s4I/AAAAAAAABWg/W-mtmyw4sjs/s320/city.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; It is my belief that everyone desires to be successful at something within the course of their life. It is also my belief that success does not predicate on your bank account balance. There are several areas of your life you can achieve success in. What is success you ask?&nbsp; Success for some people could be making more money, having better health, and for others it could just be contentment or stability in their lives.<br />&nbsp;<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; My question is what are the obstacles for the people who don't become successful? I think some people lack a template in order to define how to get what they want out of life. They cannot get to where they want to be in life because they are unsure of where they are currently at. Here are some questions you should ask yourself every day that could indicate necessary changes that need to be made:<br /><br />1.)What is the last thing I do before I go to bed at night?<br />2.)What is the first thing I do when I get out of bed?<br />3.)Why do I do that thing first?<br />4.)What is my plan for today?<br />5.)How do I feel about what I am going to do today? Do I feel energized? Do I feel&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; dreadful?<br />6.)After I do those things, how does it make me feel? <br />7.)Am I satisfied with my life today?<br />8.)Who or what dictates the way I feel about my life? <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; These questions alone can indicate a lot to you about the path you are taking in your life. Sometimes we learn the most about life when we stop and look at ourselves in the mirror. Next time you catch yourself looking in the mirror, ask yourself these questions. It could dramatically change the image on the other side of the mirror. Success is something we all deserve. Success has to come from within before it can show its external presence. <br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0307951529&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=159562015X&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0988667908&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0761512195&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/8-important-questions-you-should-ask.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-3631932864687388046Wed, 26 Jun 2013 14:10:00 +00002013-08-01T05:43:57.319-07:00The Urgency To Seek<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FA5VXhoWAho/Ucr0w02YmoI/AAAAAAAABWM/61cGwI_cy4M/s1600/babyseek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FA5VXhoWAho/Ucr0w02YmoI/AAAAAAAABWM/61cGwI_cy4M/s1600/babyseek.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It seems if you want to learn anything today it is a click away. It could be a simple book or a social media contact that aids you in the learning process. We have a great abundance information available to us. It is literally at our fingertips more so now than any time in history. Sometimes we get information that is not so great. We all wish we could find the magical answer, no doubt. The question is why can't we? If we have all of this information out there, how come there are not more average people doing extraordinary things. Is it because we live in such a competitive world these days? Well, it cannot be that. We have always lived in a competitive world and certain people have stepped up above the rest. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Back to the question, with this wealth of information and how-tos why is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>everyone not profiting greatly from it? The reason is that many seek <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>for urgency when they should have the urgency to seek. We live in a world that will not stop for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>To say we live in a world with accelerated development would be an understatement. It is hard in a fast moving world to not expect the answer quickly. If we don't find the answer quickly, we move onto something else looking for the answer to it. Our focus has a better chance to be compromised more now than ever before. Information is pulling at us every which way, but are we really leveraging it? But are we as individuals putting forth the effort that it takes to keep up with the pace of the world? Do we have an urgency to seek the answer as much as we have the want to seek for urgency? Plain and simple, if you want answers, you have to learn how to seek. If you don't want to find the answer, find someone who can help you with the answer. The answers is out there waiting to be discovered. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>The answer started with someone who spent late sleepless nights <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>seeking for the answer. They were the person who could not rest well until the question was answered. If they were not finding the answer, they had someone else finding it, who was living the sleepless nights. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We live in an amazing world and time right now. We have more of an advantage as ordinary people to do the most extraordinary things. It makes great sense to take advantage of the opportunities we have in front of us. If what you are doing is not working in your life, it is time to have an urgency to seek. Chances are, if what you are doing in life is not working out for you, you have been seeking urgency. Don't worry, it is human nature to want to do things the quickest way on the least amount of effort. It is strange that is our reflex, because it seldom works. People that end up great usually do so by tremendous amounts of effort. They seek what they need to do what they want to do. They seek the work ethic to carry out what it takes to perfect their craft. They seek what is required of them to be the best. If that is the answer, it is time to get started. Sounds like it might take a while !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>:)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Good luck on your quest!</span></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-urgency-to-seek.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-4613704074908586528Tue, 25 Jun 2013 15:14:00 +00002013-06-25T08:14:04.483-07:00Giving it Back: How To Become an Inspiration To Others<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lc2fa43-3RU/UcmyhdvouFI/AAAAAAAABV8/rROHjaSj_QY/s1600/ladder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lc2fa43-3RU/UcmyhdvouFI/AAAAAAAABV8/rROHjaSj_QY/s1600/ladder.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Many times in our lives we find the need to be inspired. There comes a point that we have to learn to inspire others. We have to learn how to step out of our comfort zones to increase knowledge in others. Being an inspiration is hard work. It is coming out from underneath and rising to the top. Everyone is always inspired by the underdog who prevails. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>If we want to become an inspiration, we cannot just do what we do well. We have to learn how to do it well through adversity and through the hard times. There are many people that can do things well. When their world falls apart, however, they can't do it all. Doing things well can be key whenever adversity comes if you know how to leverage. It can help you overcome hurdles and build momentum. It can help you get out of a bad situation much quicker. But our skills sometimes do not apply to situations that we are dealing with. Then what are we to do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We have to realize that life can be a war sometimes. So if you were at war, let me ask you, would you give up? Quitting wouldn't be a choice, unless you intend on losing. We can go on or decide to become complacent. When we become complacent with the way life is, we quit growing. If we quit growing, how will we help others? When desire dies, the dream is usually not far behind. It is not just you that is impacted. It impact the lives of other people. The people who feed off of your knowledge and the need to be inspired by you. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I remember I was at the gym one day and I went in feeling horrible. It took all I had just to motivate myself to go. I have to be mentally prepared to go in the gym and push myself physically. Even though I lacked the inspiration that day, I continued through it. I had been going through a lot of things in my personal life. I was mentally drained. My worry and lack of sleep was pouring over into my physical ability. I was spent. All I could do was keep going, even though I felt like I had nothing to offer. That day when I was in the locker room, this guy came up to me. He told me a while back he had considered quitting working out. He was struggling to lose weight. He went on to tell me that the reason he did not give up was because he had saw me be faithful. He saw the results I was delivering. Not to brag, but I have dropped around 80 pounds now. He told me how thankful he was for my presence in those uncertain times he was facing in his life. The funny thing is I had never spoken to the guy before that. Lesson to be learned here is always watch what you do. Watch what you are doing when you think no one is watching. Your intentions and actions can be infectious to others. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>So I encourage you today that when you don't feel like it, when it does not feel good, do it anyway. No matter who you are or what your walk of life, you are important and have something to offer this world. You have the ability to change the lives of many through your inspiration. I remember the first day I realized this, it changed my life. I hope it can change yours.</span>&lt; /br&gt; <iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1451667531&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=B004ZVD8KY&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/giving-it-back-how-to-become.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-1089055301850167869Thu, 20 Jun 2013 18:09:00 +00002013-07-22T17:24:46.950-07:00Nothing To Say and Afraid To Ask<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iktUWOpP9wc/UcM88WdIW6I/AAAAAAAABTI/kL9GWJfJ8xs/s1600/talking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iktUWOpP9wc/UcM88WdIW6I/AAAAAAAABTI/kL9GWJfJ8xs/s1600/talking.jpg" /></a></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I came to a stumbling block a few weeks ago where my creative juices just shut off. I could not think of any ideas and nothing would come to my mind when it was time to write. I was not distracted otherwise and could not understand it. I concluded I was at a point where I had nothing to say. I figured the best thing for me to do now was to listen to others instead of speaking. That is the root of my inspiration. It stimulates my thinking, hearing and seeing various views and opinions. I love it when people can paint a picture with words. I think sometimes it is best even in human interaction to know when to listen instead of to speak. We learn so much when we choose to listen. Sometimes when we want someone to listen to us only, we could miss the piece of information that is vital to move&nbsp;things forward. If you are doing all the talking, it is hard to evaluate feelings and opinions of others. There is, however, a time to speak up.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;</span><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">One of my strengths but also my weaknesses,&nbsp;was the ability to not ask for help. I was horrible at delegating tasks to others. As a child, I was scolded for asking for too much help and realized this carried on into my adulthood. It built me because I learned how to solve problems better. I never asked for people to help me figure it out, so I had myself being left to rely on for the solution.As I grew older,&nbsp;not asking&nbsp;clogged my time, because I was always trying&nbsp;to do it all by myself. I would get frustrated.&nbsp;I said nothing, but my frustration was apparent in the way I carried myself. One day I just got fed up and decided that I needed some help. I had way too much on my plate and I had a team for a reason. After the initial request, I felt a load come off of me. I started to see results like crazy. Come to find out my lack of speaking made some of my team feel like they were incapable.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I have become much better at learning to ask and delegate tasks to others. I had always been one to use available tools,. but when it came to speaking, I was confused when and when not to use it. Sometimes our mouths can be our biggest assets, but at the same time, when used incorrectly, can be our greatest liabilities. It is said that there is the power of life and death in the tongue. I hold this to be true from past experiences. We should speak when help is needed. This can give us instantaneous rejuvenation. We can speak too much and it can cause us much grief when we deal with others. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Society likes to confuse us on when the best time to open our mouths is. They would prefer never. I beg to differ.&nbsp;There comes a time when everyone should take initiative and speak out. Whether it be for help or to challenge something that does not quite make sense. We should not feel like we have to ask permission to speak, even though society would want us to feel differently today. Our voice was not&nbsp;created to be held in bondage. If we ever want to see change in our world, or personally, we cannot be afraid to speak up or ask the questions no one else dares to ask. We cannot be afraid to make the statements no one else will make. We have saw multiple people throughout history who were not afraid to speak up and exponential change occurred. Some were persecuted but change still took place. When we speak we risk persecution but if it means change that will make a difference, we should not fear. Know the time. It could just change the world.</span></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/nothing-to-say-and-afraid-to-ask.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-225437405950627410Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:27:00 +00002013-06-18T09:29:56.754-07:00Small Moves;Major Changes <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3i6-bKtiLy4/UcCIRB22hZI/AAAAAAAABRo/b3XOvoFKJGY/s1600/confusion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3i6-bKtiLy4/UcCIRB22hZI/AAAAAAAABRo/b3XOvoFKJGY/s1600/confusion.png" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I woke up this morning with the worst pain in my knee. I was fine when I went to bed last night so I was not sure what was wrong. I was not sure how I could have damaged my knee<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>in my sleep. I thought maybe I was on the receiving end of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>some kind of "Nightmare on Elm Street" curse...lol. I woke up with a tendon injury in my other leg as well before, so this was crazy to me. I could barely make it down the stairs this morning. Needless to say I was concerned because I had torn the ACL in that knee a few years ago which required surgery. That was not fun and I did not care to go through all of that again. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It looked like it was time to go get an x ray to see what was going on. This was not the ideal way for me to start my morning but I knew it was necessary. I hobbled out to the vehicle and made my way to the doctor. As I expected, the first thing after talking to me was to x-ray the knee. Well, after the x-ray it was time to play the waiting game. This is the worst part for me. After a little while, the doctor came in and said, "Well, good news and bad news. Good news, it is not your knee. Bad news is that you have a slight tear in your quadricep. It won't require surgery but you will have to wear a supportive brace and go through a few weeks of physical therapy after it has a few weeks to heal." Needless to say I was relieved. I then of course asked the doctor how it happened. He said, "I don't know. Did you do anything out of the ordinary yesterday?" I could not think of anything except for playing with our god daughter. I was slinging her and playing around with her just like you do any other kid. He then made a statement that was priceless and made all the sense in the world to me. He said, " Sometimes it is the small moves that make major changes. Sometimes it is the things we do every day that we think<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>won't hurt us that ultimately do in the end." </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I understood this concept. It is amazing how every day the things we do (or don't do) affect our lives so dramatically years down the road. Decisions even down to what we put in our mouths every day will alter our lives so much in the future. Decisions of the people we hang around and the things we do in their presence can make a difference. Those decisions at the time don't seem like a big deal to us. It is so crucial in our life that every day we are conscious of every action we take and decision we make. These things could be the things that make us or break us. I have seen it a million times over where people will be on the right track, make one wrong decision, and it alters their course. Long story short it amazed me how I could feel so much pain this morning from just slinging a 30 lb. kid around. I throw more weight than that in the gym by far so at the time I did not see the harm in doing it. This morning was a great reminder of a priceless life lesson. Think twice before doing anything. Sometimes bad things will happen despite, but thinking <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>through the things that you do will definitely save you heartache (and knee ache) in the end. </span></div> <br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=159285849X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1592407331&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=159555078X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0345472322&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><a href="//pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest" data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-config="above"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/i-woke-up-thismorning-with-worst-pain.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-324009424775998311Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:02:00 +00002013-06-18T07:31:08.301-07:00The Search For The Necessity of Guarantee<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUgGQekW0WA/Ub6w0ERjkfI/AAAAAAAABNY/5-Ir5cmCVxA/s1600/guaranteeroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DUgGQekW0WA/Ub6w0ERjkfI/AAAAAAAABNY/5-Ir5cmCVxA/s320/guaranteeroad.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The other day something became so apparent to me about the way we live life. Everything we encounter in life is based on necessity for a guarantee. A guarantee is a "formal promise or assurance that certain conditions will be fulfilled". We want guarantees <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>when we purchase products and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>services that they are worth our time and money. We even want lifetime guarantees that products or services will last the rest of our lives. We want guarantees we are right before making life-changing <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>decisions. We&nbsp;want a guarantee that we will be living and breathing tomorrow. We want guarantees that our efforts will produce results before we attempt our efforts. We work hard all of our lives because we want a guarantee that one day we will have security and total balance in our lives. We work jobs instead of chasing our dreams for guarantee of an hourly&nbsp;wage versus a reward of uncertainty. We marry for a hope of a guarantee that the significant other can give us fulfillment for the rest of our days. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I think now we live in a world where guarantee is not promised, but the search is hotter than ever before. We have constant innovation and technological advances simplifying our lives and answering so many questions. We definitely live in a day where there is no guarantee in our economy. We live in a day where we are not guaranteed the company that made our product or service will even be around tomorrow. We don't have the guarantee that we are right when making life-changing decisions. We don't have a guarantee or promise of being on this earth a few minutes from now.We most definitely don't have guarantees of security or balance in our lives due to working hard alone. With the ever-changing workforce paradigm and skill sets required, we have no guarantee that what got us there will keep us there. Sadly as it is, when we marry someone, there is no guarantee for that lasting a lifetime. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>A world where everything is guaranteed seems ideal, but is it? Wouldn't it be kind of boring if before we made every choice it was already destined for success? There would not be much thrill in victory. That would pretty much put everyone in a single category in this world. There would be no more risk takers. You are not taking a risk if you are guaranteed something will work. If everything was guaranteed, we probably would not have the great innovations <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>we have today. There is a new, better way brought out on how <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>to do something every day. It will be in the future, if ever, that we will see the final answer. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>As hard as life may seem sometimes, this chase we are on for guarantees of a better tomorrow is what life is all about. The search for guarantee raises a bar of higher standards and expectations .The search for guarantee is what energizes us to take on new tasks, learn new skills, and become better than we were before. It is the reason we will be sitting in leisure and the sudden thought of, "Why does this work like this?" occurs to us without any apparent reason. We are in a world where not just huge companies, but individuals, feel as if they have the power to change things and solve the world's problems. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Be thankful everything in life is not guaranteed. It is what keeps us dreaming and willing to move forward. It is what differentiates one human being from another. It is what separates the paths taken by one human being versus another. It separates what one person accomplishes and what another person accomplishes. It is what separates the way we did something yesterday from the way we do it today. It is what brings groups of people together to accomplish a common goal. If we actually came to a point in our world or in our individual lives, where everything was guaranteed, would we be motivated to do anything next? Problems and the lack of guarantee is what leads us to go on a quest for solutions to make the world better. The lack of guarantee is what builds and defines us in society today.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-search-for-necessity-of-guarantee.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-283463518161279842Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:19:00 +00002013-07-05T10:46:13.572-07:00Getting Real Part 4<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDd2KHJgESU/Ub5RCS3UwaI/AAAAAAAABNI/B8AdKNqaYig/s1600/transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDd2KHJgESU/Ub5RCS3UwaI/AAAAAAAABNI/B8AdKNqaYig/s1600/transparent.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>After 6 months of being injured, I was very restless. I was sick and l tired of sitting around feeling useless. I still could not lift the fingers on my right hand. I remember some nights <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>just sitting there thinking only one word, "Why?" I still could not grasp or understand why this was all happening to me. Some would say that it was a blessing because it slowed me down considerably. Others would say things like, "Bad things happen to good people." No matter what anyone said it still was yet to make sense to me. I felt I was way too young to be put on the backburner like this. I had so much in life I wanted to do and really felt at this point like I was unable to do anything. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>After month 7, therapy was over. The doctors had come to the conclusion that there would never be an awakening of the nerves in my right arm that made my fingers lift. Needless to say this revelation was like kicking me while I was down. It was what it was, but something deep down kept me from accepting that the fight was over and done. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>About 3 or 4 days later, I made a decision that this was more than enough for me to bear. I had to overcome something before life overcame me. I got out some dumbbells and started to lift light weights. I could still actually do this because it required me to close my right hand instead of open it. I started trying to walk my right hand fingers up the wall. Doing this forced my fingers to try to raise on my right hand. Therapy was very light movements and I did not feel it really pushed me at all. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>About the third day that I started exercising, a friend came over. He was <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>like, "what are you doing trying to exercise? You told me what the doctors said. Do you really think that is a good idea? What if you hurt yourself?" As the questions of doubt started to rise, I started laughing. I told him, "Man, I could not get hurt any worse than the mental and physical pain I have been feeling all this time. I am almost numb now. I would rather get hurt trying to do something about this then to just give up." He nodded but I could tell that he thought I was crazy. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>It was not too long until I was addicted to trying to get in better shape. I was using hand grips constantly. I started forcing some knee on the floor push-ups after <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the third week. After a<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>month of effort, my right hand fingers would still not raise. I would get angry. Sometimes I would just get sad and discouraged. I had a tornado of all kinds of different emotions inside of me. Out of anger I started pushing my workouts harder and harder. I was trying to stay positive, but even I was in question of what the end result would be. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bDd2KHJgESU/Ub5RCS3UwaI/AAAAAAAABNI/B8AdKNqaYig/s1600/transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>&nbsp;</div><br /><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="150" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=9&amp;l=ur1&amp;category=gift_certificates&amp;banner=1T4M519AR2KMD2YPXS82&amp;f=ifr" style="border: currentColor;" width="180"></iframe><a href="http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=as_acph_ce_audio_61_630?_encoding=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;linkCode=ur2&amp;node=667846011&amp;tag=httpjaythough-20" target="_blank">Shop Amazon - June Audio Month - Up to 50 Off Select Audio Electronics</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;l=ur2&amp;o=1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><iframe border="0" frameborder="0" height="250" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=12&amp;l=bn1&amp;mode=books&amp;browse=4736&amp;fc1=000000&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;lc1=3366FF&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="border: currentColor;" width="300"></iframe><br /><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&amp;description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-real-part-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-5537407432117459250Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:17:00 +00002013-07-10T09:35:59.562-07:00Getting Real Part 3<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbh3DlYIR2Q/UbjXUD7HHQI/AAAAAAAABK8/bihPxn-Uk5Y/s1600/transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbh3DlYIR2Q/UbjXUD7HHQI/AAAAAAAABK8/bihPxn-Uk5Y/s1600/transparent.jpg" /></a></div> <a href="http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-real.html">Getting Real Part 1</a><br><a href-"http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-real-part-2.html">Getting Real Part 2</a> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>In my last blog I started telling of the accident I encountered. I avoided having to get surgery but was in terrible pain around the clock. I stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks or so. Then I&nbsp;started burn and physical therapy on my arms. I could not raise or move the fingers on my right hand. My right arm was unable to bend and became stiff which became very painful. My left arm was burnt but I was able to fully move it. While staying in the hospital I learned one of the most painful lessons someone could ever learn....who my true friends were. The band assumed I was done. They immediately replaced me. I was devastated. After replacing me, they did not even tell me or come to the hospital to see how I was doing. I had known these guys since 6th grade. I was in shock when this happened. I lost my girlfriend during this time as well. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I had other good friends that helped me out. I was unable to do things like feeding myself. I could bath myself but this was a gruesome task. I had trouble with certain aspects of dressing myself. It was very frustrating and I felt helpless. After 4 months of therapy, my burns had healed but there was not any progress in the movement of the fingers on the right arm. They manipulated the bend in my right arm but I was still very limited in my mobility. I could tell by the demeanor of the therapists that they were not too optimistic about me recovering fully. Driving was a cumbersome task, on days when I was actually able. Due to the amount of pain meds it was probably best I did not try to drive. I think all the medication really helped numb some of the pain during all of this. Despite the&nbsp;medication,&nbsp;I still&nbsp;felt washed up and trapped in a situation I had no control over. I was probably in the most vulnerable position of my life. I was not good at sitting around being patient and just dealing with life. It was horrible.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span>&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Question: Has anyone else out there ever felt as helpless as this? What thoughts ran through your head during the course of this dilemma? Would love to hear your feedback. Thanks!</span></div><br /><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&amp;description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><br /><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0099SDI4Y&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0801072395&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0399519904&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=006158326X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-real-part-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-5170788367520671623Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:05:00 +00002013-07-09T03:59:44.336-07:00Getting Real Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjqhBxSilh0/UbjTJGPZ4dI/AAAAAAAABKs/vrd0N-O4VRo/s1600/transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rjqhBxSilh0/UbjTJGPZ4dI/AAAAAAAABKs/vrd0N-O4VRo/s320/transparent.jpg" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I think the real challenges in life do not begin until you are old enough to make choices on your own without parental or some other kind of guidance. I believe we create our own world, even though we do not want to accept that fact sometimes. At 13, I experienced what it felt like to become part of a broken home. A lot of my friend's parents had gotten divorced but I never really thought that would happen in my house....but it did. After this, normalcy and discipline seem to kind of be out the window. My father was gone without a trace and stopped coming around. We lived with my mother. My mother tried to keep up with all of us but it was not easy. After the divorce she had to work more so was not around to monitor the mischief we all began to cause.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I learned to take my aggressions out doing high school wrestling. This seemed like a good release for a little while. Later, I became interested in playing music and joined a band. This lead to very bad choices on my behalf. I started smoking, drinking, doing drugs, and all those other things that you see bands do. This lead to me quitting wrestling, which in the end, meant&nbsp;me quitting high school. I believe wrestling was the only thing that kept me&nbsp;there for as long as I stayed.&nbsp;For the next few years, the band did really well around town and we "thought" we were having a blast. Anywhere we went around our area someone always knew who we (the band) were. We&nbsp;never had any&nbsp;trouble getting girls. It was almost like being a celebrity. I repeat the word "almost."</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I realized at 16 I wanted to get out on my own. I really don't know why I was in such a hurry thinking back on it. With my mother working all the time, I was alone except for other family in and out of the house. I started to take some part time jobs and worked on music as well.&nbsp;The band&nbsp;actually made some demo mini albums, got on the local radio, and played some shows out of town. We thought we had made it and were going to hit the big time, until something happened. My world, especially, was about to change like never before.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I had taken a job in a cotton mill third shift and worked part time on another job on second shift. I was working about 75 hours per week. I was doing this just to save money so getting out on my own would not be so tight financially. One night I went into work at the cotton mill and was exhausted between the 2 jobs and keeping up on playing music. I was working on my machine and heard some cotton getting snagged up. I went like always to go unclog the machine. When I grabbed the cotton it would not break and two of the rollers came down and crushed my arms.&nbsp;The rollers were spinning at 90 rpm and came down on my arms with 200&nbsp;pounds of pressure. I don't even remember the ambulance ride because the pain was so excruciating.&nbsp; I had severe burns on both of my arms. Not to be graphic, but the rollers were spinning so fast, it melted my sleeves into the skin on my arms. I still don't understand to this day but my left arm did not get near the injury of my right.&nbsp;I somehow did not break a bone but killed my motor nerves in my right arm. Now how was I going to play music like this? And yes, that was actually the main thing I was worried about. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow I will go on to tell you how things turned out. Thanks for reading! </span></div><br /><a href="//pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest" data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-config="above"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0800733231&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=007159129X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=006158326X&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0979553709&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-real-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-4489593136377454922Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:25:00 +00002013-07-08T11:18:16.259-07:00Getting Real<br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfdxTrSl7PQ/Ubh2dEHM1yI/AAAAAAAABKc/TTQSvOJfTIo/s1600/transparent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tfdxTrSl7PQ/Ubh2dEHM1yI/AAAAAAAABKc/TTQSvOJfTIo/s1600/transparent.jpg" /></a></span></div><br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>Getting real and being authentic are two traits I admire in people. I admire when someone can be real and authentic with themselves, and with others as well. I love to hear their stories about how they overcame. I love to hear the stories of when they were down in the dumps. But let's face it, I am human, and like to talk about myself as well.&nbsp;I have never written a blog telling any aspect of my story, until now.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I just want you to know that my name is James Gooch. I am real person. I have every day struggles today and will have them the rest of my life. I am not a saint and have made many mistakes along the way. I still make mistakes today and will continue to make them. I am light years away from the person I was before but still light years away from the person I want to become. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I have days when I am happy and ready to conquer the world. I have days when I don't feel like doing anything. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I have a past that haunted me for years. I did not talk about it and was frankly ashamed of it. My past created many obstacles for me when I decided to turn my life around. I was not taken seriously (at first) and endured much ridicule from others. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>I endured much pain within myself trying to avoid dealing with my past. Now I am at a place in my life where I own 2 businesses while continuing to pursue my love for telling stories and encouraging others. The points between where I started and now was an adventure to say the least. </span></div><span style="font-family: &quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>In my next few blogs I am going to share some early aspects of my&nbsp;life with you. I will share an experience I had that forced me to re-evaluate and build on some of the strengths I still use to this day. I hope to hear some great stories from you guys as well. You can send me links to your blogs or stories or feel free to comment below. I hope you enjoy my story and I hope to hear your stories soon. </span></div><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0316017930&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=1591846072&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=0465005454&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&amp;o=1&amp;p=8&amp;l=as1&amp;asins=159979165X&amp;ref=qf_sp_asin_til&amp;fc1=000000&amp;IS2=1&amp;lt1=_blank&amp;m=amazon&amp;lc1=0000FF&amp;bc1=000000&amp;bg1=FFFFFF&amp;f=ifr" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe> <br /><a data-pin-config="above" data-pin-do="buttonPin" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&amp;media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&amp;description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/getting-real.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-3485013017383568537Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:56:00 +00002013-06-16T19:26:05.223-07:00Blood, Sweat, and Tears <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMvMS0vpmo4/UbYftIRPEQI/AAAAAAAABKI/SsoQX8mciQE/s1600/Funny+Baby+Crying_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KMvMS0vpmo4/UbYftIRPEQI/AAAAAAAABKI/SsoQX8mciQE/s320/Funny+Baby+Crying_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Have you ever really wondered what the phrase giving<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>your "blood, sweat, and tears" really means? There are numerous origins to the phrase but they are all tied to hardships and enduring them with concentrated focus. Not in one depiction of this phrase was it used referring to triumph with ease. This meaning has become so cliche that its true meaning is never really thought of. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>What this saying means to me is the ultimate sacrifice. It depicts the act of really giving it our all. Humbling ourselves in the face of adversity, and putting our pride aside. When we go out for our dreams, we are giving the ultimate sacrifice. We sacrifice time that would be spent doing other things. We sacrifice times of leisure and rest for doing what needs to be done instead. We sacrifice ourselves into the public views of others and their opinions. We sacrifice time with the people we love. Sometimes we feel like we are sacrificing our sanity while in the valley of decision. No matter what the sacrifice, anyone who has met success cannot say that it came without a price.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>We all have to pay our dues in this world at one time or another. If becoming successful were easy, everyone would be successful. We have to keep this in mind when we are doing the things that others think is "extreme" or "crazy". If you have ever been told that you are taking things too far or going to extremes when attempting to accomplish something, you are probably on the right track. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Many people say they want to be successful but when it comes down to it only few actually make it. Why is that? They are not willing to sacrifice. They are not willing to put themselves out there for fear of what might happen. They might fear what others think. The pain of the race does not last forever. The regret from quitting the race could last forever. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I want to exit this life knowing that I did all I could to be the best I can be. I want to exit this life with no excuses of why I did not make things happen. I hope once I am gone people will remember me for these things. I hope I can meet many others in this life that will bring this initial thought to my mind after they are gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The thought of people who gave it their all. The thought of people who gave their blood, sweat, and tears.</span></div><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B005P1YCNK&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1118199553&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1592407331&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1451667531&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.chitika.com/publishers/apply?refid=jlg507012002"><img src="http://images.chitika.net/ref_banners/125x125_money.png" /></a><br /><a href="//pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew%2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next%20stop%3A%20Pinterest" data-pin-do="buttonPin" data-pin-config="above"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button.png" /></a>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/blood-sweat-and-tears.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-2265145216960918301Fri, 07 Jun 2013 20:56:00 +00002013-06-09T15:40:25.182-07:00Wake Up Call<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bI87rklfvw/UbJIoyldvFI/AAAAAAAABJg/_IVQj-6HLMc/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_bI87rklfvw/UbJIoyldvFI/AAAAAAAABJg/_IVQj-6HLMc/s1600/clock.jpg" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>I heard a very interesting story from a gentlemen that really inspired me. He told me that ten years ago he was driving down the interstate and had a gruesome wreck. He suffered a massive concussion. I will spare the rest of the details because they would be too graphic. His injuries caused him extensive plastic surgery and physical therapy. In a nutshell, I was surprised that he was sitting there with the ability to talk to me. He told me he stayed in a coma for months and could not remember people for over a year once he woke up.</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Come to find out the man had the wreck because he was intoxicated and passed out at the wheel. He then told me that the wreck was the biggest blessing in his life. He told me he was so glad it happened because it scared him into never drinking again. He looked as if he was about to shed tears as he told me about all the things he would have missed if he had died that day. He said, "When I was alive and drinking, I was really just dead and walking. I had no purpose. I had no compassion or appreciation for people or the days I was allowed on this earth." </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>At the end of the conversation, I had totally forgot I had an appointment coming up. I was fascinated to hear the man's story. If he had never told me his story I never would have suspected any of that had happened to him. It was a great reminder to me. Sometimes in life we have to go through the fire to get to the other side of hope. I bet the people around that man thought there was no hope for him before the wreck because he was intoxicated all the time. I bet on the day of the wreck no one had hope that he would survive. But after the man came out on the other side, I am sure someone witnessed that hope and it probably encouraged someone else. It is truly amazing what a person's body and spirit can endure when put to the test. That man had an experience that did not just change his body, but it changed his heart and desires. </span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It almost seemed like that guy was placed in front of me to show me that I needed to slow down a little. Sometimes we get addicted to life just as this man was addicted to alcohol. We get so focused on the hustle bustle of life that we forget to appreciate the people around us and the blessings life has to offer. It definitely gave me a reminder that I did not want to walk around in life feeling dead inside. I did not want to walk around constantly bogged down with my own problems and worries that I forget to focus on others and appreciate life as we know it. That man's story was a wake-up call to me that sometimes I needed to be still, be silent, and just take the world in every once in a while. </span></div><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm? t=httpjaythough- 20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B005FLOGMM&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1 =000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000& bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm? t=httpjaythough- 20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00CA7QTTM&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1 =000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000& bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm? t=httpjaythough- 20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1451667531&ref=qf_sp_asin_til&fc1 =000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000& bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm? t=httpjaythough- 20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B008H9MW0W&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000& IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFF FF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /> <a href="//pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A %2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew %2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F %2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com %2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next %20stop%3A%20Pinterest" data-pin-do="buttonPin" data- pin-config="above"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button .png" /></a> http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/wake-up-call.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4347885251395111313.post-6032020026768563614Thu, 06 Jun 2013 18:03:00 +00002013-06-09T16:09:14.615-07:00Submission<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4avOGC5kBHc/UbDOHT6K2fI/AAAAAAAABJQ/no5QIBUtINE/s1600/ponder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4avOGC5kBHc/UbDOHT6K2fI/AAAAAAAABJQ/no5QIBUtINE/s1600/ponder.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">We are in a day and time where we are overloaded and overwhelmed with information. We don't know who or what to believe. Everyone thinks they have the answer, but do they? Who should we listen to? What should we listen to ? <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>These are questions I am sure most of us ask ourselves on a fairly consistent basis. If we listen to others, we want to make sure they know what they are talking about, right? It just makes sense <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>that we want to do things right the first time to the best of our ability and with the best instructions possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Finding a credible source of information these days can be challenging, but it is out there. It takes a true submission to really follow and believe someone's every instruction that is trying to lead you in the right direction. It may not just be one person. Sometimes a person's instruction can be right, but just not right for you or your current situation. You might have to follow up with information from additional sources. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>The one word for someone who you can submit to is easy: Trust. If you end up trusting this person (or group of people) they prove themselves honest, credible, etc. Trust is something that has to be earned. I have seen people lead others and make a wrong decision, but due to the built up trust established, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>the followers had faith that the leader's next decision would be on target. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>On the other hand, there is another type of people that we should never be submissive to. These are the people that criticize your efforts.&nbsp;Remember there is constructive criticism that can help you. but negative criticism can stop you in your tracks if you let it. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>It is important not to listen to negative opinions when they come your way. The minute you start believing what others say to or about you, is the minute you let them start writing your destiny. I have seen others criticized by people and end up accomplishing remarkable achievements. It seems sometimes like the minute we try something, naysayers instantly come out of the woodwork. Well, if people come out of nowhere to criticize you, it is obvious your efforts are making some noise. People that act on the opinions of everyone else will not accomplish much in life. Aristotle said, "To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing". That knowledge applied then and definitely applies today. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><o:p>&nbsp;</o:p></span></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span>Neither way, positive or negative, it is imperative that we choose who and what we submit our lives to. We should never be slaves to other's thoughts and opinions. I have learned that when someone tells you that "it can't be done" that they are usually measuring the obstacle based on their own efforts. They could never do it so they sure do not want to see you do it. When you find someone that is all for you and putting a positive impact in your life, you know that is someone worth holding onto. That kind of person comes few and far between. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B008JFUO36&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B00CMX4KUY&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1401324673&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0981504906&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=httpjaythough-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=1118199553&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><a href="//pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http%3A %2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fkentbrew %2F6851755809%2F&media=http%3A%2F %2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com %2F7027%2F6851755809_df5b2051c9_z.jpg&description=Next %20stop%3A%20Pinterest" data-pin-do="buttonPin" data- pin-config="above"><img src="//assets.pinterest.com/images/pidgets/pin_it_button .png" /></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">&nbsp;</span></o:p></div>http://jay-thoughtsandactions.blogspot.com/2013/06/submission.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (james gooch)0